Pay attention, because they might ask this on a quiz show someday: "Which hip, AC-friendly intercollegiate modern pop band released both its first and second release with just one record?" Well, one possible answer is Sixpence None The Richer; since their soph release This Beautiful Mess is actually the first to feature a whole, complete band. Songwriter/guitarist Matt Slocum and lead vocalist Leigh Bingham are both back, but the band is now filled out with guitarist Tess Wiley, bassist J.J. Plasencio and drummer Dale Baker. Many of the same dark, thoughtful elements are carried over from the Fatherless And The Widow, but comparisons with 10,000 Maniacs will end every soon with This Beautiful Mess: Wiley brings a vibrancy and urgency to the party, while Plasencio and Baker provide a solid platform for Slocum's smart, ecclesiastical musings. And Bingham's voice is stronger and clearer than ever; she could sing the phone book and I'd buy it. Twice. Fortunately for us, she's actually singing smart lyrics and singing with a crackerjack rock 'n' roll band that's already toured with 10,000 Maniacs and The Smithereens and held their own. It don't get no better than this.